Joseph A. Benton Collection

Sacramento City, Feb. 6 : 1851 ~

To A. D. Carpenter, J. W. Hinks, & A. C. Sweetser, Com-mittee of the First Church of Christ; and W. C. Waters [W. C. Walters], J. C. Zabris-kie & J. H. Scranton, Committee of the First Eccl. [Ecclesiastical] Society of Sac-ramento City:

Dear Brethren & Friends,

Your commu-nication of the Third of February, extending to me an invi-tation to become the Pastor of the Church and Society you represent, has been laid before me. I have carefully weighed the proposition you have made. I am deeply im-pressed with a sense of its importance, and am not un-aware of the cares & responsibilities of the station to which you have been pleased to call me. Though distrustful of my own abilities and embarrassed with many doubts, I have no other wish than to comply with the obligations of duty. Believing that your wishes are a plain indication of the will of God in the matter, and entrusting myself to his guidance and your love, I cheerfully accede to your request, and consent to take upon myself the duties of the office in the conditions you have offered. I hold myself ready to be inducted formally into the office of Pastor at such time as you shall appoint.

Entreating the blessing and guidance of Heaven for you in all your efforts to promote the Redeemer's Kingdom — I am

Humbly and Faithfully, Yours in the Gospel of Christ,

J. A. Benton.

We hereby certify that Mr Joseph A. Benton after due examination, was regularly ordained to the Work of the Gospel Ministry – by an Ecclesiastical Council in the First Church of Christ Sacramento City March 5, 1851 –

Sam^l [Samuel] M. Willey Moderator,

James H. Warren Scribe

San Francisco March 31. 1851.

Eccl. [Ecclesiastes] 12: [centered] 9=13 [centered] ~ [centered]

Time for Squaring accounts – opening new books – selting [settling] old matters – & starting afresh!

Time for making reviews – gathering up loose fragments, finding where we stand – and making wise provisions for the future.

~ [centered]

Opening of last year. Now – weather – mines, &c [etc.]. Effects of the year – agriculture – mining – manufacturing.

Stand still, at begin of year, under effects of the cholera &c [etc.]. Population – buildings &c [etc.] health

Sing. [singular] hist. [history] of this town in vindicating itself, from evil conclusion & slanders. E.g. [for example] flood & pestilence ~

Morality Report. [centered]

Social condition. – Order – Sabbaths – riots – Robberies – threats – violence – murder ~

All is changed. – ;

2 [centered]

No increase of churches – (bap [Baptist] ch. [church] built) – – the Con-gregations have not much increased – the Sab. [Sabbath] Schools are more – the whole attendance more

Some progress ~ --------- [centered]

Things settled. 1 The great gold product. 2 The agricultural excellencies. 3 Growth of Manufactures. 4 That we are to have order & good {government, in some way.

5 That the population of the Country is rapidly to augment. – No journey to California now, Earth Small – – Steam – or Electro-magnetism – or air navigation – make us one week from N.Y. [New York], two from London – 3 from Egypt – 4 from Bombay – 5 from Calcutta – 6 from Canton one way – 3 the other – round [around] the globe in two months ~

~ [centered]

As to ourselves – we have held our own at least as a Society – though the population is so shifting ~ One has died from the Society – one from the ch. [church] – Debt half-paid –. Salary nearly paid ~

Your Pastor has been cheered & Encouraged. No one has tried to oppose him. Not heard an unkind word – or been treated uncivilly, but once.

(Quote) (Over) [right side of page]

Writing Sermons – "any man can do that" – – try – – Legal profession – Reading, (Judge Daggett) [Senator Judge David Daggett] – (Dr. Beecher) [Henry Ward Beecher] – (The Pacific Editor.)

What as Soc. [Society] & Ch [Church] should do. Acquaintances &c. [etc.] What as Community &c. [etc.].

As persons. 1 Keep a table of time – Work – sleep – reading worship – travelling – &c. [etc.]

2 Expenses – every item – drink, tobacco – amusements – &c. [etc.]

3 No [number] of Sermons heard – meetings attended – (Political, or not). Chapters in Bible. Deaths you know of. Days of sickness – &c. [etc.]

4 Time for useful reading &c. [etc.] Cultivate your natures.

5 Time for thought Reflection & prayer – Care for the Soul.

[written vertically on left side] Annual 1852 – Sac. [Sacramento] Jan. 4. 1852 ~